Synthesizing the vast amounts of data being collected about natural resources, population, health, education, public safety, and more - all within highly accurate and specific geographic contexts - GIS can help people assess and understand their community and environment, and change policy and practice at all levels, from the individual to the international. A System for Survival: GIS and Sustainable Development describes examples of how GIS has been crucial in many democratic governance and civil liberty programs, and serves to help make people more aware of how geographic technologies can play a creative and constructive role as we deal with the monumental challenges humanity faces.